Recently I spoke with Matt Malinowski, the National Atomic Testing Museum’s director of exhibits and engagement about the Fallout Exhibit in Las Vegas.
How did the idea for the attraction arise?
I’ve been a longtime Fallout fan, and I’ve always believed video games and museums have something important in common: They’re both storytellers. I saw an opportunity to use the Fallout universe as a way to introduce a new generation of people to Nevada’s atomic history and the real-world events that inspired elements of the franchise. I sent an email outlining the idea, and it eventually reached Matt Clinkscales, Bethesda Softworks associate vice president of global marketing, and Jessica Finster, senior director of the Fallout Community.
They immediately saw the potential, and from there, we began exploring what a partnership could look like.
How long did it take to create?
The concept took shape over several months of collaboration, but once we moved into production, the timeline was incredibly aggressive. Artifacts began arriving in September 2025, and from there, we developed the storylines, designed and built graphics and props, staged the displays and brought everything together in time to open Nov. 14, 2025.
What have been the biggest challenges you faced creating and maintaining the exhibit?
The biggest challenge has been finding the right balance between factual atomic history and the expectations of an incredibly passionate Fallout fan community. We wanted the exhibit to be historically accurate while also feeling authentic to the Fallout universe.
That meant carefully comparing artifacts from the games and show with historical reality and refining everything from display labels to graphics to make sure we were doing justice to both.
How has the exhibit changed since the start?
We always envisioned the exhibit as something that could continue to evolve. Since opening, we’ve added new signage, updated information and brought in additional artifacts and larger-scale elements.
One of the most significant additions has been the full-size Deathclaw, which joined the exhibit in May 2026 and brought another immersive dimension to the experience.
How were the pieces crafted and obtained, and what were the most challenging?
A lot of the pieces came together through close collaboration with Bethesda, along with some incredible hands-on fabrication work.
UNLV Entertainment Engineering and Design students helped create several elements, including the “Welcome to New Vegas” sign. That was one of the more challenging pieces because they had only about 30 days to complete it.
The Deathclaw was another major undertaking. Washington artist Jason Morris of Dragonfoot3D printed and painted it to game standards before it was shipped to Las Vegas. Seeing something that exists in the Fallout universe brought to life at full scale is pretty remarkable.
What are the planned expansions and when will they be available?
We’re currently developing two new galleries that will double the size of the exhibit. Those spaces will introduce several new elements, including a full-size Mr. Handy and an overseer’s desk, and allow us to expand the storytelling and immersive components of the experience. We’re planning to open the new galleries in November.
How do you balance including the game lore with the show?
That balance has been central to the project from the beginning. Our early conversations with Bethesda focused on how we could honor the factual history of atomic testing while also creating something that would resonate with one of gaming’s most passionate fan communities. We look closely at artifacts and references from both the games and the television series and compare them with historical reality.
From there, we identify those intersections between fact and fiction and find creative ways to illustrate them through the exhibit. The goal is to be accurate and respectful of the history without losing what makes Fallout such a compelling world.
What are the long-term plans for the exhibition?
The exhibit will remain at the museum through 2027, and we plan to keep evolving it throughout that time. That includes adding new artifacts, such as screen-used costumes from season two of the television series, as well as expanding the immersive galleries.
Ultimately, I want the exhibit to continue giving Fallout fans new reasons to visit while creating an accessible entry point for people to discover the very real atomic history that helped inspire this fictional universe.
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